10 Best Robotic Pool Cleaners In 2019

Cleaning a pool can be an arduous task. Not only can it take a long time but it can be a messy job and one that requires a lot of effort. Getting the best robotic pool cleaner can dramatically reduce the amount of cleaning time and allow you to sit back and relax.

In order to choose the best automatic pool cleaner, there are plenty of aspects that you need to consider such as what type of pool you have, the size of your pool and what climbing ability the robot has. There are also plenty of other features to consider too.

In our buying guide we will look into those key features to give you all the information you need. We have also completed robotic pool cleaner reviews to show you the best products on the market. Once you have finished reading this guide, you will know how to get the perfect pool cleaner for you.

Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus Automatic Robotic Pool Cleaner

This is a top rated automatic pool cleaner and one of the best products on the market. It is a drop and go model meaning that you can simply place it in your pool and let it get on with its job without any other directions.

It is also lightweight with a single button to press and make it go. It has dual scrubbing brushes that are going to easily pick up that dirt with no hoses or booster pumps required for it to be used. It has a top load filter which adds to its ease of use.

What Makes This Robotic Pool Cleaner Stand Out

Drop and go model

Lightweight design

Dual scrubbing brushes

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EDITORS CHOICE

Dolphin Nautilus CC Automatic Robotic Pool Cleaner

This is another great product from Dolphin and one that is going to be able to give you a very high level of performance. It is going to be able to scan your pool floor in order to have the quickest and most efficient clean that you possibly can.

The active brush scrubbing is going to be able to lift up any dirt to leave you with a very clean pool. As well as the large dirt, it’s also going to be able to get rid of any fine dirt and sand too. It’s a great product and one that has been rated very highly.

What Makes This Robotic Pool Cleaner Stand Out

Scans the pool floor

Lifts up fine debris

Active brush

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BEST VALUE

Dolphin 2018 Premier Robotic in-Ground Pool Cleaner

This is another great pool robot that is going to make your life a lot easier, especially with its dual cartridges and also the oversized bag that it has. It is able to reduce energy use by being highly efficient in the way that it moves.

It also has a 360 rotation without the cleaner ever getting tangles in its electric wire. It has dual scrubbing brushes that are going to easily lift up that dirt and debris from the floor and leave you with a very clean pool.

What Makes This Robotic Pool Cleaner Stand Out

Stylish design

Oversized bag

Dual filter cartridges

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Zodiac Polaris F9550 Sport Robotic In-Ground Pool Cleaner

This is a brilliant pool cleaning robot from Zodiac that is more compact but still able to give you a very high level of effectiveness. It has four wheels that are going to be able to give it a large amount of traction on any surface that it goes over.

It features ActivMotion sensor technology that is going to be able to give it a great level of navigation. It is going to be able to give you a large amount of suction on debris of any size. Its propulsion system also makes it a great option for getting into corners.

What Makes This Robotic Pool Cleaner Stand Out

High scanning ability

High level of traction

Strong vacuum

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POOL ROVER S2 40

This is another great product that is going to be able to complete your job quickly and efficiently. It’s a great product that is going to work equally well for both above and in-ground pools, meaning it is a highly versatile device.

It is going to be able to filter up to 85 gallons of water per minute and the top access filter makes it very easy to use. There is a 40-foot cable attached which is going to be kink-free and allow you to have very easy access to the cleaner.

What Makes This Robotic Pool Cleaner Stand Out

Versatile cleaner

Top access to the filter

Can filter 85 gallons per minute

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Dolphin Nautilus Automatic Robotic Pool Cleaner

Dolphin are well-known for making top quality cleaning products and that is definitely the case with this model that is another great example of a pool cleaner. It is another drop and go model allowing you to relax while it does the work.

The dual scrubbing brushes are going to be able to easily pick up the dirt and debris from the floor, allowing you to have a very clean pool. It is highly efficient and is going to do a great job at preventing you from doing the hard work.

What Makes This Robotic Pool Cleaner Stand Out

Drop and go model

Highly efficient

Anti-tangle swivel

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Aquabot APRVJR Pool Rover Junior Robotic Above-Ground Pool Cleaner

This is a brilliant above ground pool robotic cleaner from Aquabot and one of the best products out there on the market. It will be able to clean your pool in under an hour, saving you the hassle of doing it yourself.

It is powered by a single pump motor to provide the suction that you need at just a touch of a button. The large wheels that it has are going to be able to navigate over any surface that you want and it has a two-hour shut off time if you forget about it.

What Makes This Robotic Pool Cleaner Stand Out

Fully automatic

Large wheels

Automatic shut off

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Hayward RC9955 TigerShark Plus Automatic Robotic Pool Cleaner

This is a great swimming pool cleaning robot and another that has been given high ratings by those who have used it and that will give you assurances that you are getting a quality product. This is highly effective with a high level of performance.

It comes with a remote control for when you need to steer it into the right direction and it has a filter cartridge system that is going to be very easy to use. It has a powerful on-board pump that is going to do a great job of sucking up all that dirt and debris.

What Makes This Robotic Pool Cleaner Stand Out

Remote control included

Powerful pump

Highly rated

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Smart Pool 9i Robotic Pool Cleaner

This is a cleaner that is going to be ideal for above ground pools but it is also going to work in smaller in-ground pools too. It features intelligent navigation so it’s not going to be stuck repeatedly cleaning the same area over and over again.

It will be able to clean a wide variety of different surfaces including vinyl, fiberglass and concrete. It has a quick-drain system and is going to be able to be easily lifted out of the pool. It also features a two hour shut off which is a great added feature.

What Makes This Robotic Pool Cleaner Stand Out

Versatile cleaner

Cleans all surfaces

Quick-drain system

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Dolphin Triton Robotic Pool Cleaner

This is a great cleaner that is going to be able to cover a large area, which makes it ideal for those who have larger pools. It is going to be able to clean the floor of the pool, the cover and the walls to give you the complete cleaning solution.

It’s incredibly easy to use and you will be able to just top it into the water and watch it work. Its swivel technology will prevent any tangling from happening and no pre-installation is required, making it great for those looking for an easy to use device.

What Makes This Robotic Pool Cleaner Stand Out

Cleans coves and walls

No pre-installation

Tangle free

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How To Choose A Robotic Pool Cleaner – Buying Guide

Inground vs Above Ground Pool

Above ground pools can be quite different in regards to how they are made when compared to in-ground pools and one of the biggest will be in terms of the above ground pool liners as these are generally made out of much more flexible material.

With the above ground pools, you need a cleaner that is going to be able to cope with the softer vinyl floor. Other types of cleaners aren’t going to be as soft on the surface and therefore they could end up damaging it with their harsher brushes.

The opposite is going to be true with in-ground cleaners as they are built be able to scrub concrete floors and therefore their brushes are going to be harsher as you don’t have to worry about the hard floor being damaged.

There are cleaners out there that are going to be able to clean both types of floor but it’s rare that someone would down both an above ground and an in-ground pool. It’s always important therefore to check the product specification to get the right type for you.

Size

The size of your pool is going to be one of the important things to consider before building or installing a pool or spa, especially when it comes to choosing a robotic pool cleaner. The reason for that is due to the fact that they might not have the longest range or their filters could get clogged up if the pool is too big.

If you have a small pool then this isn’t going to be much of an issue. Even the smallest of robotic cleaners have a cleaning range that is going to be fine for an above ground pool or a small in-ground pool.

It’s not just the robot itself that you need to consider, as each model is going to come with a fixed length of cord and therefore you are limited by how far it can be from the power source you are using and you might not have another power source available.

While it might seem like a good idea to simply get the largest cleaner that you possibly can, this is not always going to be the best idea. The reason for that is that any additional cord and product size is going to add weight and therefore be more difficult to use.

Due to this, you want to get a pool cleaner that is going to be the perfect size for your pool in order for it to be able to clean the whole area but not too big that you are carrying around extra weight. In order to do this, it’s a good idea to know the dimensions of your pool and then get a robotic cleaner to match that.

Weight

The weight of pool cleaners might not seem like much of an issue but a heavy model can make it difficult to move, especially when trying to pull them out of the water. The robotic pool cleaner needs to be the right weight in order to balance its task and its ease of use.

The reason a balance needs to be struck is due to the fact that the cleaner needs to be big enough in order to be able to press its brushes onto the surface with enough force so that it is able to clean effectively.

Most models will range around the 20 pound area which is heavy but still fairly easy to manage. If you think you are going to struggle to lift that weight, then you are probably best looking for a lightweight cleaner that is going to be easier to handle.

If weight isn’t going to be an issue for you, then you can look for the cleaner that is going to be able to do the job most effectively. Dragging an item out of the water will be more difficult than placing one into the water and therefore there is that aspect to consider too.

Brushes

In terms of how to remove sand from your pool, the brushes on the cleaner are going to play an important role. These will vary from one model to the next and also will change depending on what type of surface they are expected to clean.

Your best bet is almost always going to be to opt for a pool cleaner that has hard bristles as these are not only going to be more durable but also they will pick up more dirt as they will be brushing hard against the floor.

This won’t always be the best option for above ground pools though as they are going to have a softer surface. Using bristles that are too hard in this situation could cause them to damage the surface which is something that you obviously want to avoid.

If you want to use a cleaner for an above ground pool then it’s important to check this, as well as ways to maintain and clean your above ground pool. If you have an in-ground pool, then this isn’t going to be as important as you know that the cleaner isn’t going to damage the surface.

It’s also a good idea to look for a pool cleaner that has two bristles on it too. This way you are going to be able to get more coverage and the second bristle is going to pick up anything that is missed. Most products come with this feature and it’s a great one to have.

Programmable Time

There are many reasons why you should cover your swimming pool & hot tub as it will cut down on cleaning time but also a robotic cleaner that is programmable can be a great additional feature as this will cut down on cleaning time too. It will also be able to save you energy in the process too, as these devices can end up using a lot of power.

Programming the amount of time that your little robot is going to work for can mean that it will be able to perfectly cover your pool. The exact amount of time that you need for this can often be found through experience and watching it work.

A downside of having a robot that stops too quickly can mean having to restart it again until the job is finished. This is obviously going to be frustrating as the whole point of getting one is to take the effort out of cleaning your pool.

On the others side of the coin, if your robotic cleaner goes on for too long then it could end up cleaning spots that it has already covered. A lot of these devices have a two hour cut-off if they have been left on to prevent overuse and to stop you from wasting energy.

Climbing Ability

Watching the devices in the water can be an amazing thing to see. They will crawl around your pool very intelligent and also climb up walls when they need too in order to clean that hard surface area too and ensure your pool is properly clean.

Not all models are going to be able to climb up the side of your pool though and if you want this feature then it’s something that you will have to check. Cleaning the side of your pool isn’t as important as the bottom but it still needs to be cleaned.

Some pools can be more challenging and others and if you have an oddly shaped pool, then it could be a good idea to look for a model that is going to be able to deal with these challenges better than other products can.

There is also the difficulty of stairs too. If your pool has stairs instead of a ladder then you are going to want an automatic cleaner that is able to crawl up those stairs and clean them properly to prevent you from having to do it yourself.

Deflecting Features and Sensors

Not all robots have the same level of intelligence and not all pools are the same shape either. Some pools will have a number of different obstacles where a robotic cleaner can get stuck and this can be annoying if you have to go and fish it out.

The most intelligent of robots will be able to sense anything in the area which might be a problem. This will mean that it will be able to carry on cleaning while you are able to get on with relaxing by the pool or getting on with your daily tasks.

If you have a simple round or four-sided pool then this isn’t going to be an issue. If you have a regular pool space then you are able to get a simpler model but this simpler model could also have other disadvantages, which is important to check.

Essentially, you want to match the level of pool difficulty with the intelligence of the machine. Quite often though, the most intelligent products will also be the best at cleaning overall so are often the best option even for simple pools.

Efficient Cleaning Cycles

All these robotic cleaners are going to have a mind of their own. They will scour the floor of your pool and be able to clean every inch of it. As with many products though, some are going to be able to do it a lot better than others.

Not all robots are built the same and if you see one trawling over the same area again and again, it can be highly frustrating and you can be left with a pool that hasn’t been cleaned properly, even though your cleaner has been working on it for a long time.

The best models are going to be able to scan the pool floor and make a plan of how they are going to approach it so that they only clean the areas that haven’t been worked on and nothing more, this saves both time and power.

The highest quality products will also be able to clean more efficiently as well. Often this comes in the form of their particular brush strokes or how hard they are working, this means that they can move across the floor at a quicker pace than its rivals.

Durability

Whatever type of product that you have, you want it to be as durable as possible in order to get your money’s worth out of it. Durability depends on many different factors and sometimes you can get away with buying a low-quality product.

That isn’t the case with robotic cleaners though as they need to be well made in order to deal with not the high amount of pressure, constant scrubbing and the long periods of time that they are going to be operating for.

Thankfully all of the products that we have looked at here are made to a high level of quality and are going to be able to last for a long time. They have been well rated by those who have used it for a long time which will give you assurances that you are getting a quality product.

If you are unsure about the durability of a product then having a warranty placed on it can be a good idea. This will give you peace of mind that should anything go wrong with the robotic cleaner, you are going to be covered.

Energy Efficiency

The energy efficiency of these models comes in the form of a few different factors. That can be how big they are, how long they are working for and also how efficiently that are moving over your pool surface and getting the job done.

The size of your pool cleaner is going to be the biggest factor in its energy efficiency. The larger the model, the more power it is going to use up. This is another reason why simply getting the biggest model isn’t always going to be the best thing to do.

If you have a larger pool then they are naturally going to be taking up more energy. If this is the case, it’s especially important to look for a robot cleaner that has a high efficiency rating in terms of its motor and how it uses its power.

As we mentioned earlier too, the devices’ intelligence is going to have a big impact on its energy efficiency too. If it keeps cleaning the same spot over and over again then it’s going to be wasting a lot of energy.

Maneuverability

A robotic cleaner isn’t going to be much good if it keeps banging itself against the same wall and therefore you want it to have the agility to only get out of a difficult situation but to also prevent it from getting into them in the first place.

This maneuverability will come in the form of a few different aspects as you want the robot to be able to can your pool efficiently, you want it to be able to detect any obstacles and you also want it to be able to climb too.

Most robotic cleaners are going to take a scan of your floor but some are able to do it a lot better than others. This will prevent it from being caught in any situation where you have to get in the pool and free it up to be able to move.

This will also be aided by obstacle detection and also the ability to climb can not only be essential for cleaning your pool in the correct manner, but it can also be important in helping it to get out on any sticky situations.

Wheels

As the only point of contact with the ground, it’s obviously important that the wheels are going to be up to the task of trawling around your pool and cleaning it effectively. There are a few key areas that are going to play a part in this.

Firstly, it’s a good idea to look for a robotic cleaner that has quite a wide wheelbase. This will mean that it’s more stable in the water and also means that it’s less likely to be knocked over and required to be uprighted by the user.

As with a car, you also want it to be four-wheeled drive as this is going to be able to give it the highest level of traction and allow it to get over any difficult terrain or obstacles that might be in its path when it’s on the pool floor.

Another aspect that is similar to a car is that it’s better to have a model that has rubber wheels or a similar substance that is going to have good traction against the surface. This will prevent the wheels from slipping and make it as efficient as possible.

A robotic cleaner is by far the easiest way to do that as you will be able to relax while your little robot does all of the hard work. There are plenty of other advantages to using a robot cleaner too aside from the obvious.

It’s going to help aid the water circulation that is in the pool, allowing your filter to be even more efficient. It also doesn’t need to go through your filtration system and therefore it is not going to wear down your pool.

Q: How To Clean A Robotic Pool Cleaner?

A: These cleaners are cleaned in much the same way that a regular pool filter is cleaned in terms of clearing out their filter and on most of these models that can be done via the top of the filter which makes it highly convenient to use.

Despite this being a device that does the cleaning for you, it’s also a good idea to make sure that it is clean after you have used it. It’s important not to leave it in the water after use and you also want to drain and dry your cleaner.

This will help to prolong the life of your device and it’s also a good idea to inspect it after each use. The brushes can take some damage over time and if they’re not in the best condition, then it’s probably a good idea to replace them.

Q: How Does A Robotic Pool Cleaner Work?

A: Instead of manually cleaning with a regular pool vacuum head, a robotic cleaner is going to be able to do the work for you and it doesn’t even need to be connected to your pool’s pump system as most manual pool cleaners are.

They are effectively automatic vacuum cleaners that are in the water instead. They are plugged into a power source and will sweep everything into their filter system which will then be emptied once they have done their job.

As we have discussed here, the more advanced models are going to be able to scan the pool floor in order for them to only clean areas that need to be cleaned. This is a great feature which is going to be able to save a lot of time.

Globo Surf Overview

Your pool maintenance is always going to be important and cleaning it is an unavoidable part of that, whether you are getting rid of pool algae or working out how to locate and fix a pool leak. It makes sense to make that arduous job as easy as possible and that’s where the robotic cleaner comes in as it will change the way you think about cleaning your pool.

There clearly is a lot to consider with the main points being in regards to getting the right size and the right type for your pool. After that you want to see which particular features are going to be most important to you and your pool with aspects such as climbing ability, efficiency, durability and its brushes among other factors.

This guide has given you all the information that you need in order to make an informed choice about what cleaner is going to be the best option for you. Once you have made that choice, you will be able to do whatever you want to do while your robot does one of the most difficult chores there is.

My name is David Hamburg. I am an avid water sports fan who enjoys paddle boarding, surfing, scuba diving, and kite surfing. Anything with a board or chance I can get in the water I love! I am such a big fan I decided to start this website to review all my favorite products and some others. Hope you enjoy!